Minimum pricing would mean less crime and fewer people in hospital

Commenting on the launch of the 'Why Should we Pay More Campaign', that is opposed to minimum unit pricing for alcohol, Professor Lindsey Davies said:

"We should expect the alcohol industry to fight tooth and nail against a minimum unit price to protect their huge profits. A minimum unit price will mean heavy drinkers drink less, commit fewer violent crimes and are less likely to end up in hospital. But these heavy drinkers are also the biggest buyers of alcohol with 80% of all alcohol in England being drunk by the 30% of heaviest drinkers.

"A minimum unit price for alcohol will reduce pressures on hospitals and police and may actually save moderate drinkers money. It makes sense from a health and a financial perspective to everyone except those that make millions from selling more alcohol to those that already drink too much."